In the early 60's I was lucky enough to become friends with Benny Powell in New York.
He took me to some killer sessions where I met the giants of jazz (Benny, having come from Basie's band, knew everybody) and I was with him at the Hotel Theresa in Harlem when we met the upcoming fighter, Cassius Clay, before the world knew who he was.

The last chance anybody ever had to bet on the champ as an underdog. And I did.
Update: Benny left us in June 2010, age 80.


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